SHERWOOD – The first of two showdowns between the top volleyball teams in the Northwest Oregon Conference went to Sherwood after a three-set victory Tuesday night over Liberty.

Sherwood's 6-foot-2 middle blocker Kathryn Groenweghe proved to be too much for Liberty, a team still finding its identity after the graduation of six all-conference players from last year's team that won the conference title and placed sixth at the Class 5A state tournament.

Tuesday's game was a measuring stick for Liberty, head coach Bret Rickman said of the rivalry that goes back several years. Sherwood won the 2010 Northwest Oregon Conference championship and beat Liberty in the state championship game that year.

"We've got a lot of work to do," said Liberty's senior outside hitter Janessa Mast, a first-team all-conference selection last year and the only returning full-time starter. "And it's good. Now we know what we have to work on, so we can just get it done and come back stronger the next time."

Mast was part of an imposing front line that propelled Liberty to an undefeated Northwest Oregon Conference record last year, which included two victories over Sherwood last year. This year, with first-year starters Kristin Szmigulski, Natalie Lubischer, Kelly Meeuwsen and Angie Hamlin in the fold, the Falcons have some growing to do.

"We have some new players on the front wall, and they're learning how to play up at this point," Rickman said. "We've had a number of players coming up from the JV team, which is good. But we're just getting used to each other as a family right now. And so we're going to work through that in practice and in games like this."

Szmigulski said this year's team can't rely on power alone.

"This year we're relying as much on technique as much as we are on power," the senior middle blocker said. "Last year we just had power hitters at every position, and that's what we relied on. We could hit everything; we didn't have to worry about it. But his year we have to be smarter about where we hit, how we pass. We have to be a lot smarter of a team this year, too."

Also gone from last year's team is conference player of the year Stephanie Meeuwsen, a defensive specialist and team leader. And on Tuesday against Sherwood, Liberty had its share of communication issues.

"We have to keep our composure, that's a big thing we have to work on," Mast said. "And we have to play as a team. We're playing individually right now, and we need to bring it together. Once we do that, we'll be fine."

Sherwood rolled 25-16, 25-15 in the first two sets. The winning point in the second set came on a Groenweghe kill, encapsulating Liberty's night. Liberty responded in the third set with more fight but eventually fell 25-21.

With the score tied at 16-16 in the third, Sherwood's other imposing front line player, 5-foot-11 outsider hitter Devin Saucy, scored three kills to spark a 9-5 run to close out the match.

It was a playoff-type atmosphere that was a good learning experience for many of the younger players, Szmigulski said.

"Next time we'll be prepared for it," she said.

Mast led Liberty with nine kills, while sophomore libero Amanda Ganete had 26 digs. Liberty's next match is Thursday against St. Helens. The Falcons next face Sherwood on Oct. 18 at Liberty High School.